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Laser treatment of benign prostate enlargement—which laser for which prostate?

Nature Reviews Urology volume 11, pages 142–152 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Key Points

  • Laser techniques are increasingly being used in favour of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and open prostatectomy as a treatment for benign prostatic obstruction

  • Several laser-based surgical methods have been developed, using different wavelengths of light that have different physical properties and, accordingly, different uses in the clinic

  • Laser enucleation with the holmium laser and green light laser vaporization lead to immediate improvement of voiding symptoms and parameters comparable to TURP

  • With regard to intra-operative safety, green light laser vaporization seems to be superior to TURP

  • Thulium laser enucleation shows encouraging results regarding efficacy and safety and early functional outcomes appear comparable to TURP

  • Early diode lasers were associated with increased postoperative complications; in later models a trend towards enucleating techniques with less morbidity can be noticed

Abstract

Laser-based prostatectomy for benign prostatic obstruction has emerged over the past decade as a treatment alternative to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and open prostatectomy. These techniques set new standards in minimally invasive surgery and aim to obviate the complications of open surgery while ensuring durability of outcomes. Enucleation, which mimics open prostatectomy in that the whole prostate adenoma is removed, and vaporization, which involves ultra-rapid heating of superficial tissue layers and subsequent ablation, are the most often used surgical techniques in laser prostatectomy. The wavelength and the power output of the laser influence the tissue–laser interactions, which determine the physical properties and the safety profile of the technique. Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and GreenLight™ laser vaporization of the prostate are the two reference techniques for laser prostatectomy, both of which have been shown to be as effective as TURP, while offering advantages in the safety profile in various randomized trials. Thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuLEP) shares similarities with HoLEP and has shown encouraging results. However, more controlled trials with longer follow-up assessment are needed. Diode lasers come in various wavelengths and fibre designs and have been used for vaporization and enucleation, but require high-quality data to support their clinical use.

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Figure 1: Optical penetration depth of different lasers in prostate tissue.

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  1. Department of Urology, University Hospital Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, Basel, 4031, Switzerland

    Malte Rieken & Alexander Bachmann

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Both authors researched data for the article and discussed its content. M.R. wrote the manuscript, after which both authors edited it before submission.

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Correspondence to Alexander Bachmann.

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A.B. is a company consultant for American Medical Systems, Orion Pharma, Schering, Olympus, and Caris Life; receives company speaker honoraria from American Medical Systems, Ferring, and Bayer; participates in trials for AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and American Medical Systems; and receives research grants from AstraZeneca and Pfizer. M.R. declares no competing interests.

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Rieken, M., Bachmann, A. Laser treatment of benign prostate enlargement—which laser for which prostate?. Nat Rev Urol 11, 142–152 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrurol.2014.23

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